With millions flooding into several tight Colorado races, many registered voters have already gotten the bitter taste that can come with living in a swing state: annoying visits from canvassers.
In addition to political groups pushing candidates, nonpartisan third-party entities are promoting voting on a wide range of issues. They show up at your door with surprisingly up-to-date information when it comes to who you are, your party affiliation, whether you've voted and by what method.
"We get requests from parties, from issue committees, from folks running campaigns for candidates," said Angela Myers, clerk and recorder for Larimer County.
In Myers' county, groups pay $100 for information that is updated two times weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays. Requesters can't tell how people voted on the issues, but they can tell whether someone returned a mail ballot or went to a polling center.
In Weld County, the list costs $150 and like Larimer is updated twice weekly. Boulder County also charges $150 but offers a daily updated file. Neither county has seen a significant uptick in requests for the data compared to what was anticipated for midterm elections.
"During partisan elections, it's been the norm as far as requests," said Weld County Clerk and Recorder Steve Moreno.
So how do you get your name off those call and canvas lists?
Larimer Clerk and Recorder Angela Myers said the only sure-fire solution is actually turning in your ballot — the sooner the better.
"They want to use their resources as expediently as they can and as efficiently as they can. That's why those lists are so critical," said Myers. "They don't want to call people who have already voted. That's a waste of their time."
Oct. 30 is considered the last day voters in urban areas should return their ballots by mail, according to a spokesman for Secretary of State Scott Gessler. Rural voters should allow for more time. Ballots can be hand delivered to local voter service and polling centers until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
